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Olive Tree Health Issue Identity Help

hmpace28hmpace28 Posts: 5
in Problem solving
I just got an olive tree as a gift. At first it shot out lots of new leaves and branches. About a week ago it started to curl new leaves and has developed white flakey spots on the underside of the leaves and on the trunk. Some of them seem to have possible larvae, but not sure. Some browning of the leaves and dropping. I live near seattle, wa. Plant is indoors under bright fluorescent store lighting away from drafts, ect. Please help
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Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Looks like scale insects.  Have a look here for more info.:

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • hmpace28hmpace28 Posts: 5
    Hmm I bet you are correct. I wondered if this was the problem, but have never had an olive tree or any similar infestation. I'll check out a remedy asap! Thanks so much!!
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    It's only a little tree, you could do it by hand.
    Some cotton wool dipped in a 1/2 glass water that's had just 3-4 drops of washing up liquid (or shower gel is more plant-friendly) mixed in and just wipe them off.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    I agree with Pete.8, it can be easily removed that way. I had scale insects on my Olive this year too, but they were the brown hard backed ones. They came off easily when I picked them off. The Olive is fine now. They can infect Olive trees often. 
  • hmpace28hmpace28 Posts: 5
    Ok, so I was able to get all the scale removed and the plant seems stable, green has returned to the stem etc. Well now all the leaves fell off...fall time? It doesn't seem dead, but definitely got upset after the whole ordeal.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Olives are not really house plants and are actually quite hardy down to -10C altho you'll want to protect small plants like yours for the next few years till the wood ripens and maybe protect smaller stems and ends of branches with horticultural fleece if frosts are forecast.

    Here is some information on growing them from the RHS UK:-

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=138
    and
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/fruit/olives




    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • yorkshireroseyorkshirerose Posts: 574
    I wonder which Country your Olive was imported in from? Xylella is a devastating disease which Olive is a host to. Buy British when you canhttps://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/assets/factsheets/Xylella-on-olive-pest-alert-Oct-2018ver2.pdf

    Your plant doesn't appear to be infected, but all gardeners should be made aware of this devastating disease which must be kept out of our Country.
    A gardener's work is never at an end  - (John Evelyn 1620-1706)
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    The Op lives near Seattle, northwest USA and mild climate!
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • yorkshireroseyorkshirerose Posts: 574
    Sorry, Obelixx, I missed that bit of info. However, everyone, wherever they live, should be aware of the devastation that could be caused by Xylella, and Olives are a known host!
    A gardener's work is never at an end  - (John Evelyn 1620-1706)
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I agree.   We all need to be careful of the origins of plants and try and buy locally bred to reduce the transfer of pathogens and pests.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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